Last Updated: October 27th, 2009
Officer F. E. (Ricky)Tejeda #1782
Patrol West Community Policing
661 N. Elder Wichita, KS 67212
337-9400 Fax: 337-9470
ftejeda@wichita.gov
Mission Statement
The Wichita Police Department's mission is to provide professional and ethical public safety services in partnership with citizens to identify, prevent and solve the problems of crime, fear of crime, and social disorder and neighborhood decay, thereby improving the quality of life in our community.
The Community Policing Philosophy
Community Policing is a philosophy and an organizational strategy that promotes partnership between law enforcement and citizens of Wichita. It is based on the premise that Police and the Community must work together to identify, prioritize, and solve crime, the fear of crime, social and physical disorder, and neighborhood decay.
District Advisory Board IV meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Alford Library, 3447 S. Meridian.
District Advisory Board V meets the first Monday of the month at 6:30pm at Auburn Hills Clubhouse.
CURRENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ON 18 BEAT
This segment will inform you on the recent crime trends or recent important information regarding 18 beat, which is everything west of Ridge Rd., south of Maple (excluding the airport) to approximately 167th West.
18 Beat did not have a 'hot spot' in the past month. A 'hot spot' is an area on a beat where criminal activity increased during a period of time. That's not to say we were without crime.
From September 27th to October 27 there were 46 larcenies, mostly from vehicles. There was no specific area hit harder than any other. It happened all over the beat.
There were 9 burglaries on the beat, 8 of which were residential burglaries.
And there was only 1 aggravated assault, and that occurred at a bar.
A big hats' off goes to the residents in the Calf Skin neighborhood. There have been 4 Neighborhood Watch programs started within the past 2 weeks and several more are soon to begin. Neighborhood Watch programs promote unity and deter crime. Active Neighborhood Watch programs can reduce crime 48-60%.
Holiday Safety Tips
The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Please feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of the source.
Trees
* When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
* When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
* When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
* Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
* Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
Lights
* Check all tree lights-even if you've just purchased them-before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
* Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
* Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
* Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
* Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Decorations
* Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
* Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
* In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
* Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
* Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.
Toy Safety
* Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
* Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
* To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
* Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
* Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
* Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
BEWARE OF SCAMS BEING REPORTED IN THE AREA.
BELOW ARE A LIST OF SOME OF THESE SCAMS. PLEASE CALL POLICE IF YOU ARE CONTATCED BY INDIVIDUALS TRYING ANY OF THESE SCAMS
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Emergency or "Grandparent" Scam
Though the “Emergency Scam” (or sometimes referred to as the “Grandparent Scam”) has been around for years, the RCMP led Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (Phonebusters) warns the public to be on after noting a marked increase in the number of complaints in the last two months.
In the typical scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from con-artist claiming to be one of his or hers grandchildren. The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble, usually a car accident, returning from a foreign country, or even bail money and need money immediately.
A typical call can go something like this:
Con-artist: Hi, Grandma/Grandpa
Victim: Hi.
Con-artist: Do you know who this is?
Victim: John?
Con-artist: Yeah.
Victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent as the caller specifically asks that they do not want other relatives to know what has happened by asking “Can you please help me? I'm in jail (or in the hospital / or in some type of financial need). But don't tell Dad. He would kill me if he found out, please sent the money ASAP. I'm scared"
Wanting to help their grandchild, the victim sends money by a money transfer company such as Money Gram or Western Union.
Variations on the scam exist such as an old neighbor, a friend of the family etc. but predominantly the emergency scam is directed toward the Grandparents.
In 2007, 128 consumers reported this scam to the CAFCC. From January to August 31 st 2008, 317 complaints were reported to the Center with the majority reported (155 complaints) in July and August 2008.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (Phonebusters) was established in January 1993 and is jointly operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Competition Bureau Canada.
The CAFCC is a national call centre where victims can report fraud complaints. The information is used to assist in investigations.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre plays a key role in educating the public about specific fraudulent mass marketing and identity theft pitches. It also helps to prevent similar crimes from taking place in the future through its ability to identify emerging trends.
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List of Scams
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DRUG HOUSES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
I would like to address three questions that I am often asked by citizens on the phone or at a neighborhood association meeting regarding possible drug houses in their neighborhood:
How do I know whether a drug house is active in my neighborhood?
Increased short-term auto and pedestrian visits at unusual times during the day and night to a particular house or apartment.
Increase in litter such as used syringes, plastic bag, glass pipes, bottles, trash, stacks of used matches, and graffiti.
Increase in crimes like auto burglaries, home burglaries, robbery, vandalism, and assault.
Increase in noise such as loud voices, parties, fights, gunfire, and loud radios especially at night.
Active prostitution in or around the neighborhood.
Residences with blacked out windows.
Unusual, strong odors (like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals)
What kind of information would the Wichita Police Department like about a drug house in my neighborhood?
Drug sellers: (specific description) Name, race, sex, age, height, weight, hair color and style, build and complexion, clothing, scars, or tattoos, and distinct features (piercings, beard, etc.).
Drug seller/Drug supplier’s car: (detailed description of seller’s/ supplier’s car only) color, make, model, license tag number, and 2 or 4 door.
Address: (complete address) number and street, apartment, upper, lower, or side-by-side.
Building or House: (general description) color, constructed of (siding, brick, etc.), type of building (apartment, house, duplex, business, garage, etc.).
Windows: (something out of the ordinary) used as a lookout or blacked out (sheets, paper, foil, etc.)
Drug buyers: (general characteristics as a whole) Age range, race (white, black, hispanic, asian, mixed, or other), clothing, and male or female.
Types of drugs: (IF POSSIBLE, kind of drugs that are sold at the house) marijuana, crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.
Times of activity: (heaviest times that drug buyers visit) times of the day, day of the week, vehicle color, make, model, and license tag number.
Vehicles or walk-ups: (where do drug buyers park their vehicles or where do walkers come from) park (in front, down the street, alley, etc.) walk (cut through backyard, alley, etc.)
Weapons
Pictures/ Videos
How do we get rid of a drug house?
Contacting SCAT (Special Community Action Team)
The Wichita Police Department recognizes that we cannot win the war against gangs and drugs alone. Gangs and drugs affect all of us and often destroy our community and families. We need your help, DO NOT look the other way and say it's not my problem. We need the community to get involved to be our extra eyes and ears. Get involved!
Please report drug and gang activity in your neighborhood to the Special Community Action Team (SCAT). SCAT is the enforcement arm of community policing, which primarily specializes, in street level drug and gang activity.
Any information received by you will be kept confidential and you will be doing your community a service. YOU can make a difference by calling the Patrol West Bureau S.C.A.T Team at 337-9400 or 267-SCAT.
Organizing Neighborhood Watch
Block by block community mobilization is the most powerful weapon in the war on drugs. A neighborhood watch is the fastest, safest, and most effective way to rid your neighborhood of a drug house and prevent it from coming back.
HELPFUL NUMBERS
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PATROL WEST SUBSTATION: 350-3460
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INVESTIGATION DIVISION 268-4407
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CRIME PREVENTION UNIT 268-4101
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WEST COMMUNITY POLICING 337-9126
CURFEW LAW (even in the Summer )
JUVENILES AGE 15 AND UNDER
SUNDAY - THURSDAY = 11:00PM - 6:00AM
FRIDAY - SATURDAY = 12 MIDNIGHT - 6:00AM
JUVENILES AGE 16 AND 17
MONDAY - FRIDAY = 12 MIDNIGHT - 6:00AM
SATURDAY -SUNDAY = 1:00AM - 6:00AM
Please insure that your children are under your supervision during these times. If your child is caught for a curfew violation then it is YOU, the parent, that receives the citation and fine!! If you are in the area and see juveniles that are not being supervised then please call 911.
Helpful numbers
Patrol North – 688-9500
Patrol East – 688-9300
Patrol West – 337-9400
Patrol South – 337-9200
Community Affairs – 268-4101
Animal Control 268-8378 - Leash laws, animal bites, animal care and conditions and issued animal license.
Environmental Services 268-8351 - Improper or no household trash collection, trash on premises, tall grass and weeds, animal hoarding, run down buildings and illegal dumping.
Fire Department Prevention 268-4441 - Fire safety education, juvenile fire starter counseling.
Office Of Central Inspection 268-4460 - Illegal parking in front yard, RV's, boats etc. improperly stored, signs in public right of way, emergency board up of vacant houses
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